- Rome considers placing regional naval assets under national command as shipping security concerns persist
DUBAI: Italy has instructed its Navy to prepare for a possible operation to ensure the safe passage of Italian-flagged vessels through the strategically important Bab Al-Mandab Strait, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday.
Crosetto said Rome would not wait for the European Union’s Aspides maritime security mission to determine whether Italian vessels could safely transit the key waterway.
“We have decided, with the chief of staff, not to wait for Aspides to decide whether the ships can pass or not,” Crosetto said at the Risorsa Mare forum in La Spezia, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency.
Navy Ordered to Prepare Necessary Measures
The Italian Defence Ministry confirmed that Crosetto had directed the Navy to make the necessary preparations to guarantee the safe passage of Italian ships through Bab Al-Mandab.
The strait, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a critical maritime corridor linking Europe and Asia and has faced heightened security risks amid regional tensions and attacks on commercial shipping.
Italy Reviews Existing Regional Assets
According to ANSA, Italian authorities are examining whether military assets already deployed in the region could be placed under national operational command if required.
Among the assets being considered is the Italian Navy frigate Bergamini, which is currently stationed in Djibouti. However, no final decision has yet been announced regarding its deployment for the proposed mission.
The frigate is part of Italy’s wider naval presence in a region that has become increasingly important for protecting commercial maritime traffic and maintaining freedom of navigation.
Any Deployment to Require Government and Parliamentary Approval
Crosetto stressed that any decision to launch an operation would be taken in consultation with the Italian government and Parliament.
The move reflects Italy’s efforts to ensure that its commercial shipping interests can continue to use the Bab Al-Mandab route amid continuing maritime security concerns, while maintaining coordination with broader European efforts to protect international navigation in the Red Sea region.
BY: The Times Union
